“Unfortunate that Indian content banned in Pakistan,” says Shabana Azmi

Veteran actress Shabana Azmi has reacted to Pakistan’s Supreme Court’s decision to ban Indian content in their country terming it as unfortunate, saying it is the decision of Pakistan’s politicians and bureaucrats and not their audience.

Shabanaz Azmi was interacting with the media as she hosted a painting competition for children to celebrate 100th birth anniversary of acclaimed poet, lyricist and her father, Kaifi Azmi, on in Mumbai.

Pakistan’s Chief Justice Saqib Nisar said the country’s supreme court will not allow Indian content to be shown on Pakistani TV channels as it “damages our culture”.

“It’s an unfortunate decision because I feel that art connects and not divides people. People of Pakistan don’t want a ban on Indian content in their country, but it is their politicians who want it. In our country too, politicians want to ban their art and artists,” Azmi said.

She said people-to-people contact is necessary. “(By banning) we lose an opportunity to create a large pool of talent in our subcontinent.”

“When we visit Pakistan, we get so much of respect from their citizens and when artists from that country visit our land, they say they feel like being in their our own country. So, people-to-people connect is really necessary when it comes to encouraging any kind of art form,” Azmi said.